Design and implementation of a prototype lathe milling of computer numerical control

The design and implementation of a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Milling Lathe Prototype for the CNC Laboratory at ESPE Latacunga is presented in this paper. The prototype can handle the machining of parts with relative complexity, i.e. combined operations of milling and turning without the use of two independent devices. The implementation process started from the structure of a manual parallel lathe, which was redesigned in order to increase the degrees of freedom and turn it into a 4-axis milling lathe. Each axis contains a ballscrew activated by a servomotor and controlled by a servodriv. Velocity- and position-related movement is programmed using specific software which is able to interpret geometric code (G-code) generated by CAM, as the result of a CAD design, for the computer-aided machining of parts, establishing a HMI. The CNC milling lathe prototype is a contribution to the Ecuadorian industry, as it demonstrated the viability to implement locally-built computer-aided hybrid machines. The prototype will also be used as didactic material by teachers to develop Computerized Manufacture classes and in the automation of industrial machinery.